Theft and Shoplifting Classes as Prevention

There are just as many items to steal, as there are shoplifters and thieves. Theft and shoplifting prevention classes will teach some of the most helpful tactics, tips, and statistics to help him or her learn all about the most used methods to steal from a store. Some of the most used theft tactics include drops, distractions, pickpockets, and the grab and dash.

There are all kinds of reason to use theft and shoplifting classes as prevention. Some of these reasons include training for security in private stores, police work, and even by smart parents and organizations that are trying to use theft and shoplifting classes as prevention.

One of the trickiest things about shoplifting and theft prevention is figuring out the law. Every state has different definition and punishment for what constitutes a petty theft. Regardless of the dollar limitations involved, it’s always theft when an individual steals from a retail store.

To find great theft and shoplifting prevention classes go to a city hall. Another option is available if you have steady access to the internet. You will find a wide variety of classes available to start making a final decision from. These programs will offer many different services and group assistance options that will be able to teach you as much as possible about theft and shoplifting prevention.

Therapists are a large part of theft prevention techniques because they can teach loss prevention specialists which nonverbal signs to look for in a potential shoplifter. Combined with words and experience of a veteran loss prevention specialist, you’ll be able to get the training you need to get an upper hand against anyone who would try to steal from your establishment.

The theft and shoplifting techniques taught in prevention classes are useful not only to loss specialists but to every day cashiers as well. This is because of the high likeliness of identity fraud. Requiring your cashiers to take theft and shoplifting classes as prevention will cut back fraud in your store exponentially. You will also notice decreasing in the need to file insurance claims for losses, fraud, and drastically less worry about having an increase of insurance expenses.

By having more and more employees complete their prevention classes not only could your losses drop to almost nothing, your insurance may just drop, too. After all, insurance is all about safety. Boston leads the charge for shoplifting related crimes.

Theft and Shoplifting Classes can be used as prevention by parents as well. The classes can be online or in person, but the online option can offer a wider availability of the materials and class lessons, including 24 hour contact with the lead instructor. The parents can monitor their child’s progress online, so they can know right away if their child’s progress is coming along smoothly.

If you’re worried about the expense of loss prevention classes, don’t be. The classes are very affordable and available to anyone with a computer. The prices for theft and shoplifting classes for prevention can cost between $95 - $195 for classes that range from a total of 4 10 hours in length.

When the classes are completed, a printable certificate of completion is available and can even be used in court or insurance for proof of training. It is a real and useable credential that anyone in the loss prevention field should invest in.

It seems like every day the numbers of robberies are increasing with no end in sight. There are several reasons that teens decide to start stealing. Most teenagers will give bland answers to why they stole, such as “I don’t know” or “ I was bored”. It can be kind of shocking for parents and guardians to hear this type on nonsensical logic. If you want to try and counter your teens theft and stealing addiction, it’s more than logic that’s needed, you need to know how to fight the rush that’s caused by stealing.

One of the largest factors when a teen steals from a store for the first time is peer pressure. Not just by friends urging him/her to steal, but also by the pressure of having all the best clothes, the top name brands and anything else to feel "cool".

Teens compete everyday with who has the best music player, cell phone, or the best and most expensive pair of shoes. When the competition gets to be too much for some teens, they can turn to stealing to compete with their peers. It has little to do with being bored, or not knowing why. Teens as a whole have to keep with a status quo that many people may never experience again in their life.  Stealing can easily be the result.

Resolving this behavior before it is too late is essential for making sure your teens future can be bright and productive, and not dark and locked up. By not making excuses for their child’s actions it will show him or her that they have to be personally responsible for their own actions and they will be forced to face the consequences for what they do.

That’s not to say you can’t show sympathy for what they are going through and show the belief that they can overcome this mistake in their life. It may be cliché, but when a teen knows that their parents can still believe in them, it can inspire them to not repeat those same mistakes and perhaps even strive to be a better person on a daily basis. It may be shocking to know that California leads the pack for shoplifting crimes.

If this type of behavior is not faced and resolved in their teen years, it may carry over into their adult life and do more harm than just get their parents told on them. Facing your teens theft and stealing problems will keep you child from adding to the teen theft statistics that are on the rise daily.

If you think your teen has been involved in theft or stealing, there are certain things to look for. Does your teen have new clothing that you didn’t buy them? Or new mp3 players, video games or even music CD’s? If they do, they may be stealing from local stores. If your teen admits to stealing, getting furious and laying down a strict punishement isn’t going to deter their desire to steal. The best option is to get them enrolled in a theft and shoplifting education class online. That way he or she doesn’t have to leave the house to take it, and that way no one has to know unless he or she tells them.

Shoplifting in America has become an epidemic.  With the economy at an all time low, we are seeing more and more theft and shoplifting at almost every level in the United States.  Below, we have compiled a list of some of the most common items stolen from stores across the country.

1. Meat and Poultry.  Who knew?  You guessed it; meat is the number one shoplifted item in America.  They tend to steal high end items such as filet mignon, lamb and rib-eye steaks.  Grocery stores now have to put sensors under the meat packaging to catch shoplifters in the act.

2. Razors.  Yep, we all want that clean close shave.  Razors are very expensive.  They are also very small and easy to conceal.  This is why they are such a target for thieves.  Most thief’s target Gillette products such as the Mach IV razor.  I guess it's safe to assume its men that are taking these items, but there is no data to confirm that theory.

3. Baby formula.  As the saying goes, "baby needs shoes", but in this case it's, "baby needs food".  Who would have figured shoplifters are after baby formula as a high ticket item.  Most families spend about 10k a year per child on formula, so it's no wonder it on the top of the list of high trafficked items for thieves.

4. Make-up.  Yes, I just said make-up is one of the top items most stolen at department stores.  Why you might ask?  For starters, make up is very expensive.  Just go by your local Bobby Brown counter at Nordstrom and you'll see what we are talking about.

5. Alcohol.  Yes, Alcohol is often one of thief’s most prized possessions.  Particularly for minors looking to get drunk at their next party.  The good news is that most minors who get caught will ultimately end up having to take minor in possession classes as a result of their crime.

6. Laptop computer come in as yet another popular item for shoplifters and thieves.  These items are commonly taken because they are so easily resold. It is estimated that over 100k laptops are stolen each year from big box department stores.

7. Over the counter medication.  Yep, items like Tylenol, Motrin, and Sudafed are all resold on the black market.  Again, these small items are easy to conceal and walk out of a store with so shoplifters can do it with ease.

Shoplifting and stealing is a huge problem in America.  Fortunately most police departments and probation departments are looking to educate small time thieves in theft education classes.  The most popular programs being a standard 4 hour theft class online.

I was recently at a charity event where the MC made an announcemnt.  He said, "If anyone can bring back a camera that was taken from the front stage, we would greatly appreciate it".  As the day went on, more an more announcements were being made.  It went from cameras, to game consoles, to clothing.  There was a thief amoung us, and it would be hard to spot him/her in the crowd of over a 1000 people.  This Los Angeles thief was getting away with a huge crime and making the tone of the charity event sour.  The MC kept making announcements, "We have this missing, or that missing", it was terrible.

What most petty thiefs and shoplifters don't realize is the impact their stealing has on others.  It can effect the attitudes and experience of others even when the items aren't be stolen directly from us.  Most shoplifters lack an important skill called empathy.  Empathy is our ability to accuratly pick up on how other people are feeling and then doing things that let them know they are understood.

One of the best things about a quality theft and shoplifting class online is that skills such as empathy will be learned.  In conjunction with other interventions, online education can help petty theives learn how to make remarkable changes.

I am an instructor for both court and probation approved classes here in my local jurisdiction.  Most of the participants that call to come in for a class do so because it is some form of a requirement from either the court, probation, or a diversion program.  I always interview those attending classes and ask what it was that they stole and why they did it.  The answer to these two questions varies greatly from person to person.  Some steal for the thrill of it, while others claim to do it out of necessity.  Almost all; however, will agree that they have been stealing for a long, long time and it has simply become a habit, a very bad habit.

Here is the story of Joe:

Joe is 24 years old and lives at home with his parents.  He was brought up in a middle class family with working parents.  While he didn't grow up poor by any means, he claims that there were a lot of things he wanted or wished he could do, but simply couldn't.  He said he started stealing as far back as he could remember.  It started with candy at the supermarket as a young boy.  He said he would just do it every once in a while.  By the time he was 10, he couldn't leave a store without taking something, even if it was small.  The items could range from a pack of gum, to a t-shirt, to a watch, anything he could fit in his pocket.

As Joe got older his theft got more elaborate and intense.  He started stealing not just from stores, but from cars, houses, hotels, and offices.  He was more than just a Petty thief, but now really turning into a felon.  He always felt guilty about the stealing, but at the same time got a rush from it.  The habit of stealing for him was as normal as brushing ones teeth in the morning, just a normal part of the day.

Joe was finally arrested at age 17 for stealing alcohol from a grocery store.  At that time he was required to take an alcohol awareness classes, do 25 hours of community service, and participate in a 10 hour theft education class.

It really wasn't until age 23 that Joe realized how big his problem was.  He was finally arrested and spent 1 year in jail for breaking and entering.  He finally was ordered to attend classes and get help.

Theft and shoplifting is more than just a crime.  For many it can be become an addiction and is often characterized as an impulse control disorder.  Those of suffer from the disorder would be much better served getting help educationally then spending time behind bars.  Theft addiction is a serious problem that should be addressed.